Weeks 14, 15 and 16 Recap: Is it October 14th yet?

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Hello everyone!  I'm still here and I'm still running.  I just haven't been blogging since I haven't really had much to say with regard to my training.

Truthfully, I would just like to get the race over with so I can take my life back.  I'd like to be able to run when I want and not because I feel like I have to run.  I'm looking forward to being able to wear my hair down and be able to sleep in on the weekends and in the mornings.

Mentally, I think I'm in a much better place compared to where I was last year.  I don't want to bail on the race like I did last year.  I completed a 20 mile run, which is a huge accomplishment saying that I didn't even run one last year.

My game plan is to stick with the 4:30 pace group, which is 10:18 per mile.  I think I can handle that.  I'll stick with them for as long as possible and try to pick it up at the end so I can achieve my goal time of 4:28.  That's an almost 20 minute cut, but I'm confident that if I maintain a run instead of dropping to a run/walk that it can happen.  I've also told myself that I never have to run a marathon again if I can achieve my goal time.  So, hopefully that will be incentive enough to get it done.  My performance will depend on a lot of things and weather will be a big factor.  I'm hoping for cooler temps like last year.

Week 14: 14.01 miles in 2:19:49 (9:59 average pace):  I ran along the DPR South with my training group.  Overall, it was a good run and I didn't have any major issues.  The weather cooperated too, which was nice.

I ran part of it with a woman who is training for the Ironman in Kona.  She's run the race there before.  I mentioned that I found out that former Pittsburgh Steelers, Hines Ward, was training for the race as well.  She mentioned that he's part of her team (Newton), but he's primarily advertising chocolate milk.  She said she met him once before.  How cool is that?  I totally look up to that woman since she's committed to being so fit and has completed multiple Ironmans.

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Week 15: 20.17 miles in 3:37:26 (10:47 average pace):  My little brother and I ran the 20 Miler at Busse Woods in Schaumburg.  My pace group leader and some other members from my training group were at the run so it was nice to see some familiar faces.  I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to do a true dress rehearsal for the full.

I ran with my little brother whose training hasn't been going as well as he would like.  His longest run was 12 miles which he did a long time before the 20 miler.  So, it's crazy that he even completed the run.  He started to hit the wall around 14 miles, but was able to finish the run.

I stuck with him for 18 miles than took off.  I ran the last mile in an 8:46, which was way too fast.  I just wanted to get the run done!  I didn't pause my Garmin for any of my aid station breaks or our walking/stretching breaks.

My legs were OK and I worked out a pretty good eating and drinking strategy.  I also drank Gatorade and didn't have any tummy trouble so I was pleased.

Also, our pace group leader had to use the bathroom around mile 9 so we choose to run without her.  In retrospect, I kind of wish that I stayed with so I'd have the support of the group.  But, I'm confident that I definitely could have run faster so I will hopefully be OK for the full.

Also, the little bro and I decided that I should do my own thing for the race and not worry about sticking with him.  Plus, there will be 45,000 people running the race so it's not like he will be alone.

Week 16: 7.87 out of 12 miles (DPR North) - TOTAL FAIL:  I had some feminine issues going on the morning before so my mental focus was on that instead of my run.  I decided to run just 8 and didn't even finish that.  I suppose I could make up for it and run 4.13 miles later today.  I may do that after the game if I'm in the mood, but I doubt it. 

My philosophy is that I'd rather go in to the race a bit undertrained (which I would say that I am) instead of overtrained.  A plan like Hanson's would never be something I'd even dream of trying to complete.  Too many miles!!

My legs are feeling OK for the most part - my quads were a little sore post yesterday's run, which I will attribute to a hard PT session Friday afternoon.  Hopefully they'll be fine come race day.

In other news, my managing partner is also running the marathon this year.  He ran 21 miles one weekend and 20 the following.  He mentioned to my BQ marathoner attorney that he wanted to run the full 26.2 this weekend.  Personally, I don't see why anyone would do that.  Maybe it'd make him feel better mentally if he completed the full distance.  But, why risk getting injured?

Oh, and lastly, I mentioned to my pace group leader that my times to races have slowed down by about 2 minutes+ per event ever since I started training for the marathon in 2012.  He asked me if I should have trained with the 9:30 pace group instead of the 10:00 minute pace group.  I told him that I didn't think I could maintain the 9:30 pace for a long period of time.

But, maybe I could have and maybe I should have done that.  That way, I could run at the 9:30 pace as long as I could and then slow down.  Perhaps I would have been able to achieve my time goal.  Oh well.  What's done is done.  I suppose I could get back to my times from 2011, but that would involve the desire to do it on my part.  We'll see what happens after the marathon.  I'll have to reevaluate my goals and plan out what I want to do over the fall/winter and in 2014.

How's your training going??  Do you just want to get the race over with like me?  Would you ever run the full distance while training for a race?  Lastly, GO BEARS!!!!

Week 13 Recap: Another 18 Mile Run

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I successfully completed my second 18 mile training run in 3:00:47.  I didn't feel as good about it as I felt with my first one.  This was because it was a lot hotter toward the end of my run.  The first 15 miles went really well and then the wheels fell off the bus.  My other training group members were feeling the same way.  Therefore, we took extended walking breaks and hydrated a lot more.  There were points in the run where I didn't know if I'd make it, but I was able to power through and get it done.

My legs felt OK and my IT bands didn't bother me.  My right hip tweaked out a little bit during the run, but it was not anything serious.  My calves were sore post run and my Achilles still act up in the morning.  I'm doing my calf stretches per my PT's advice and that's supposed to help.

I had PT twice last week.  He worked on my right hip during my first session and stretched it and massaged it hard.  I almost cried.  On Friday, he used the dreaded stick to work on my right calf, hamstring and ITB.  I almost cried again, but he showed me pictures of his dogs so that helped.  I did a lot of hip work at PT this week, which I think is helping.

My PT asked me if I am more prepared for the marathon this year.  I told him that I think I am, but I really can't say for sure.  My IT bands hurt a lot less and I was able to put off PT until the 12th week of training.  I think I'm getting in about the same mileage and I haven't missed a long run yet.  My weekly long runs are another story though.

More importantly, I think my attitude toward the marathon is better since I know what to expect and I want to perform better this year compared to last year.  I really wanted to quit after week 15 after having missed my 20 miler for no good reason.  I'm definitely getting my 20 miler in this year. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve my time goal.

T-Minus 34 days until the marathon!  34 more days until I can get my life back!  GO BEARS!  Why are we losing to the Bengals?!  Hope your training is going well!

Buffalo Grove Stampede 10K Race Recap

Total Time: 55:14 (8:54 average pace)

9/21 age group

160/410 overall

38/147 women

Shirt, sticker and magnet - also pictured,
my new CEP compression sleeves which I used for the race

I came into this race without much of a time goal having run 13 miles the morning before.  I just wanted to run under 57:07 (9:12 avg mile pace), which is the time I'd need to run a 10K in order to run a marathon in my goal of 4:28:00.  It was also a hot morning so I wasn't expecting much.

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When we got to the race site, the announcer told us that we had to turn our bibs horizontal in order to get our times recorded.  Evidently the strip has to be placed up and down and it was misplaced on our bibs.  This is the first time that this has happened to me at a race.  It wasn't a big deal.

One guy tried to argue with my mom and I when we told him to turn his bib by telling us it was an RFD chip and would be read no matter now it was placed.  He eventually found me later and told me that he had caved and turned his bib.  Serves him right for being so smug!

First of all, I absolutely despise that the 5K runners and walkers get to start ahead of the 10K.  Shouldn't the longest distance go first?  The 5K started from 8:00 to 8:05 while the 10K runners had to wait until 8:22 to start.  Those minutes are crucial especially on a hot day.  Oh, and the top 5K runners were already finished before the 10K runners even started!

I bumped into my friends R and J from the training group and we chatted for a bit.  J wanted to run 9:05s to 9:00s while R wanted to run 9:30s to 9:15s.  I told them I wanted to break 57.

Course

Mile 1 - 8:36: The first part of this race is run though a residential area with windy roads and nice open stretches of road with minimal shade.  Yep.  It's a total pain in the butt when it's hot.  But, it's the start of the race so I'm still feeling good.

Miles 2 and 3 - 8:48 and 8:46:  These miles are run in the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve, which is pretty, but the terrain is somewhat difficult.  You run down a hill before you get to mile 2 so you know you have to run up that bad boy on the way back.  It's two way running so you can see the elite runners zooming through the course.  Parts of the trail were shaded, which was nice, but there were some open areas, which were difficult to get through with the sun beating down on me.

Mile 4 and 5 - 8:56 and 9:05:  On the way to mile 4, I see the smug guy and I kind of wave at him.  In retrospect, this may have been an a-hole thing to do.  But, I don't really regret that I did it.  Spoiler alert:  I didn't see him pass me so I'm pretty sure I beat him.  But, with chip timing, you never know.  

In route to Mile 5, we run down a nice big residential road without absolutely no shade whatsoever.  The sun was beating down on the blacktop and I started to get pooped out.  Are we there yet??  I finally crossed Mile 5 and I knew that the bridge was up ahead, which I wasn't pleased about.  Also, I'm parched, but a volunteer tells me that there is water over the bridge.

Mile 6 to Mile 6:2 9:12 for Mile 6:  Now, the bridge was a pretty long one and yes, there was indeed water just shortly after it.  I also spotted J a little bit ahead of me.  Eventually I caught up to him and passed him when he stopped to walk.  He yelled at me to finish strong and I said, "You too dude!" 

I finally reached the 6 mile marker and I start gunning it toward the finish line picking off a few people along the way.  I could see the finish line so I started to dog it a little bit.  I felt some footsteps coming behind me so I picked it up and finished in front of whoever was behind me.  *WHEW*  It sucks to be passed on the sprint especially being THAT close to being DONE.

Immediately after the race, I felt like garbage.  The heat got the best of me.  Also, there were only four water stations on the course, which didn't seem like enough since it was very hot.  I dumped a lot of water on myself.  In retrospect, I wish I just carried my bottle, but it felt too clunky.

My parents and I checked our results to confirm whether we won anything, which we did not.  We headed to the pancake breakfast where we chowed down and headed out.  If you plan on going to the breakfast, leave as early as you can since the parking is tough and can get crowded.

Overall, good race, tough course and great price especially if you're a CARA member.  I definitely plan on doing this race again.